Stop the despicable SANDF, SAPS brutality during lockdown.

While the restrictions imposed on South Africans to curb the spread of the coronavirus may be justified, the disgraceful violence by the SANDF and SAPS enforcement officers is absolutely unacceptable. 

The threats and violence seem to be directed at the most vulnerable sectors of our society, particularly the those wracked with poverty, holed up in shacks with little or no facilities, who need to live hand-to-mouth. Journalists, who are also threatened, continuously report on citizens being degraded, physically assaulted, and even killed.

Non-compliance needs to corrected, but this depravity has no place in an open democracy, not even during a state of disaster. 

While the work by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate is acknowledged, and the disiplinary action against some criminal officers lauded, a stronger response from the South African parliament is demanded.

It is therefore requested that the Minister of Police, Gen Bheki Cele, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans,  Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Ronald Lamola make a joint public commitment, endorsed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, to act decisively on cases of abuse by enforcement officers.

These ministries are requested to, in conjunction with the free press, report on cases of abuse by enforcement officers and the outcome of these cases. Updates can be delivered promptly on electronic platforms in the same way cases of the coronavirus is reported by the Ministry of Health.

The blight of abuse of power is shocking, however, the kind work, conducted with self-control and genuine concern by other enforcement officers is praised. The power-abusers should be held accountable to uphold the standards expected from our security forces. 

André van Tonder    Contact the author of the petition